Protein is needed by every living organisms, and next to water, makes up the largest portion of our body weight since it is contained in muscles, organs, hair, etc. The protein used in making up the body is not directly derived from the diet, but the dietary protein is broken down into amino acids, and the body then re-constitutes these amino acids into the specific proteins needed.
Enzymes and hormones regulating body functions are also proteins. And amino acids are used in most body processes from regulating the way the body works to how the brain functions - it also activates and utilizes vitamins and other nutrients.
Proteins are chains of amino acids linked together, bound together with peptide bonds and there are about 28 amino acids commonly referred to in human health. The liver manufactures about 80% of these amino acids, but the remaining 20% of such amino acids must be supplied directly by the diet, and these amino acids are referred to as the
essential amino acids. These essential amino acids are: histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan
and valine. The 80% or so of the others that can be manufactured by the liver include:
alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, citrulline, cysteine, cystine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, ornithine, proline, serine, taurine
and tyrosine.
The functioning of amino acids
is interrelated, and a balanced and steady supply of these nutrients are needed to maintain proper body functioning. A dietary shortage of amino acids can impact negatively on your health - just as other stressors, such as trauma, drug use, age, infections etc. When the body synthesizes protein, ammonia is formed in the liver as a waste product, and too large amounts of protein in the diet can result in too much ammonia being formed, and in so doing placing extra stress on the liver and kidneys to flush it out the body.
